AEA 267 Newshttp://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us
AEA 267 NewsThu, 23 Jul 2015 16:02:37 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3AEA 267 anticipates five open seats on boardhttp://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/07/21/aea-267-anticipates-five-open-seats-on-board/
http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/07/21/aea-267-anticipates-five-open-seats-on-board/#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 16:17:28 +0000http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/?p=1345Continue reading →]]>Area Education Agency 267 Board of Directors has five open seats that will be selected by a vote of the schools in Director District #3, Director District #4, Director District #5, Director District #6 and Director District #9. The Director Districts are as follows:

Director District 3: Includes all of the areas within the community school districts of AGWSR, Alden, Aplington-Parkersburg, Cal, Clarksville, Eldora-New Providence, Grundy Center, Hampton-Dumont, Hubbard-Radcliffe, Iowa Falls and North Butler.

Director District 4: Includes all of the areas within the community school districts of Belmond-Klemme, Mason City, Osage, Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock (RRMR) and West Fork.

Director District 5: Includes all of the areas within the community school districts of BCLUW, East Marshall, GMG (Green Mountain-Garwin), Marshalltown and West Marshall.

Director District 6: Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom (BGM), Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Grinnell-Newburg, Hudson, Montezuma, North Tama County, South Tama County and Union.

Director District 9: Includes all of the areas within the community school districts of East Buchanan, Independence, Jesup, and Waterloo.

Any eligible voter residing within the respective director districts, except those persons employed by a local school district or those persons serving on the Merged Education 2, 6 or 7 Board, are eligible to serve on the AEA 267 Board.

Those interested in being considered as a candidate for the AEA 267 Board may obtain a “Statement of Candidacy” form by contacting Sam Miller, AEA 267 Chief Administrator or Kerri Wilson, AEA 267 Board Secretary.

The “Statement of Candidacy” form must be filed with Kerri Wilson, AEA 267 Board Secretary by 4:00 p.m. on August 14, 2015. School districts in the respective director districts will cast a mail-in ballot on or before September 30, 2015.

]]>http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/07/21/aea-267-anticipates-five-open-seats-on-board/feed/0All kids have the same dreams: Patrick’s storyhttp://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/17/all-kids-have-the-same-dreams-patricks-story/
http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/17/all-kids-have-the-same-dreams-patricks-story/#commentsWed, 17 Jun 2015 15:21:30 +0000http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/?p=1337Continue reading →]]>Hearing Patrick VandenAvond rattle off the list of activities he has participated in over his school career is dizzying. Cross-country (including a trip to the 2014 state meet as a member of the district team), basketball, band, track, chorus, student council, and school plays. In addition, he has found time to maintain a near perfect 4.0 grade point average, holds down a part-time job in the community and participates as a member of the Boy Scouts.

“I like to push myself, and prove that I can work hard” said VandenAvond. “I have fun.”

None of this might be all that interesting except for the fact that Patrick was diagnosed at the age of two with global development delay. He also struggles with ADHD, is considered to be on the autism spectrum, and copes with a variety of physical challenges.

“We’ve never limited Patrick and I think that’s the key,” said his mother, Jaci. “I follow Patrick’s lead when it comes to how far he wants to go and what he wants to participate in and accomplish. We never say no.”

Patrick has also been part of a community and education system that has challenged him and refused to limit his potential because he participates in special education programming. The staff members from Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) have lead that charge by advocating for Patrick and helping others to think beyond the stereotypes about what kids with special needs can achieve.

Dr. Mary Stevens, AEA 267 Director of Special Education, believes Patrick is a great example of what can happen when teachers, community and family collaborate and together hold high expectations for a student with special needs.

“We have to challenge our assumptions as a society and education system about what kids with special needs can do and learn,” said Stevens. “We have a good system of support in place for these individuals but what gets in the way sometimes is our own mindset about how far they can go. Our job is to help them overcome the barriers and go further than they think they can.”

Perhaps Patrick’s ninth grade basketball coach, Craig Eisenman, sums it up best, “[Students with special needs] are no different than the other kids; they only want what we all want in life. That is a chance. A chance to be a kid, and to participate and grow and learn. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Life is about the chances we get. Given a chance, many times kids will dream their wildest dreams and exceed expectations…all kids have the same dreams.”

Next year, Patrick plans to attend the local community college and study computer programming. He will likely need continued support and training in life skills to successfully transition to adulthood. But given Patrick’s attitude, he’ll probably do so with the same success he has achieved throughout his K-12 career.

When asked what advice he would give other kids with special needs, he smiles and says simply, “…work hard. There is hope!”

]]>http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/17/all-kids-have-the-same-dreams-patricks-story/feed/0AEA 267 Early ACCESS services provided year roundhttp://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/01/aea-267-early-access-services-provided-year-round-2/
http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/01/aea-267-early-access-services-provided-year-round-2/#commentsMon, 01 Jun 2015 19:10:13 +0000http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/?p=1328Continue reading →]]>Although school is out for the summer, the AEA 267 Early ACCESS program offers support year round! Early ACCESS is a partnership between families with young children, birth to age three, and providers from the Department of Education, Public Health, Human Services, and Child Health Specialty Clinics.

The family and providers work together to identify and address specific family concerns and priorities as they relate to the child’s overall growth and development. Early ACCESS can work with families to address concerns about how their child is talking, moving, seeing, listening, thinking, eating and playing.

To connect to the Early ACCESS system, families and providers (with parent permission) can contact a local AEA 267 office or Gina Greene, AEA 267 Early ACCESS Regional Coordinator.

]]>http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/06/01/aea-267-early-access-services-provided-year-round-2/feed/0At 40, Area Education Agency 267 still providing vital serviceshttp://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/05/31/iowas-aeas-celebrate-40-years-with-new-video/
http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/2015/05/31/iowas-aeas-celebrate-40-years-with-new-video/#commentsSun, 31 May 2015 15:32:01 +0000http://news.blogs.aea267.k12.ia.us/?p=1333Continue reading →]]>A big thank you to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and Mason City Globe Gazette for publishing this feature story about the impact of AEA services on the state over the past 40 years!

Thanks also to KWWL television for featuring Dr. Roark Horn and Dr. Mary Stevens on “The Steele Report” recently. The 30-minute show provided both guests with an opportunity to educate the public about the history and mission of the AEA system along with where we are headed in the future.

Watch our 40th anniversary video to learn more about our impact on the state over the past 40 years. Do you have a story to share about how the AEA has helped you or your family? Let us know by going to our Facebook page and sharing your story.